Being a resident ranger at a Girl Scout camp was a childhood dream of mine. As a girl, I belonged to the Connecticut Yankee Council. Camp Yankee Trails was my sanctuary for two weeks of limitless joy every summer. Camp gave me hope for my future, despite the abuse that ran in my family for generations. I hated to leave at the end of each session!

Part of Yankee Trail's magic was that it had once been a honeymoon resort. I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else! Thankfully, my husband-to-be had fond memories of working at YMCA camp and liked the idea. We didn't consider living at a camp until 10 years later. I was a troop leader in Meriden and took the girls for their first sleepover at Camp Murray. The ranger's house was vacant and the council was seeking applications. My husband John thought it was a great idea. We moved in during the summer of 2002. It's been my delight ever since to help make Camp Murray a special place.